Jimmy Kimmel.Photo:Disney/Mark Seliger
Disney/Mark Seliger
AsJimmy Kimmelhits the final stretch before hosting theOscarsfor the fourth time on March 10, one might wonder: Does Hollywood’s biggest night ever get old for theveteran host?
Not a chance.
“I feel like the Kansas City Chiefs going into this Oscars,” he tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “Like you’ve been there before, but it doesn’t make a difference. It’s still exciting and you still have to do well.”
Kimmel does have his pregame drill down. Per usual, he’s spent months spitballing jokes and will spin timely material into comedy gold right up until the show begins. He’s watched many, many films (he’s seenall 53 of this year’s nominees). And perhaps most taxing, he’s upped his gym game to get in tux-ready shape.
“I need to start working on my ‘explosiveness,’ " he notes dryly before allowing that he’s been living on “sad salads and a lot of pathetic boxed meals that are delivered to my home.”
Jimmy Kimmel hosting the 95th Oscars on March 12, 2023.Kevin Winter/Getty
Kevin Winter/Getty
In other words, the Emmy-winning comedian is in peak form.
“We work very hard to make the show as good as it possibly can be,” says Kimmel, 56, who also creditshis wife, Molly McNearney, returning as the show’s co-executive producer, and the rest of their well-oiled creative team.
Kimmel was asked back soon after hosting last year’s show but waited until the writers' strike was over in September to sign back on.
McNearney, he says, “always goes into everything with a measure of concern and feels the need to remind me of everything that goes along with hosting the Oscars.” But Kimmel was undeterred.
Jimmy Kimmel.Randy Holmes/ABC via Getty
Randy Holmes/ABC via Getty
For the first time, their 9-year-olddaughter Janeperked up when she heard her dad was hosting the Oscars. “She did ask if she could come to the show,” says Kimmel, who instead offered to have her sit in on rehearsals.
“She said, ‘No thanks, I’m only interested in the real show — I want to be on-camera,’ " he says. “Just like what they say onThe Bachelor,she isn’t there for the right reasons.”
So as Jane watches from home likemillions of other viewersaround the globe, Kimmel vows to do his best with what he anticipates will be a “fun” night.
Jimmy Kimmel and wife Molly McNearney in January.rederic J. Brown / AFP/ Getty
rederic J. Brown / AFP/ Getty
“The big challenge always is trying to keep the show moving, so it’s a matter of picking your spots and popping in when you’re needed and staying out of the picture when you’re not,” he says.
“We’ve got some really great movies and great actors and performers. It’s tricky, but I think we have it figured out as much as you can.”
For more from Jimmy Kimmel, pick up this week’s issue of PEOPLE, on stands Friday.
source: people.com
